Childish Gambino Returns with "New" Album, 'Atavista'
Atavism: the recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, approach, or activity
Synonyms: return, revision.
For years, fans have eagerly awaited the return of Donald Glover, an artist more commonly known by his alias, Childish Gambino. His popularity began with his hit single “3005” and his work garnered international attention after the release of the music video for “This Is America” in May of 2018. His back-to-back albums, Because the Internet and “Awaken, My Love!”, also rightfully awarded him with critical acclaim because of their outright excellence.
photo via childishgambino on Instagram
Although his return to music was eagerly anticipated by the masses, his release of a full body of work in early 2020 largely flew under the radar. The album, entitled 3.15.20, dropped immediately after the impetus of the global pandemic and had almost no promotion for its release. The album was a personal experiment for Glover, and that’s the way it was received by fans. Many recognized it for the unfinished project that it was, but the skillful use of synth and futuristic sound was nonetheless enjoyed by its listeners. In other words, the somewhat incomplete nature of the album didn’t make it any less great.
In an interview with Complex last October, Glover said that the album mirrored the unfinished relationship he had with his late father who passed during the making of the album. In another interview with Variety Magazine, he states,
“The project I put out, ‘3.15.20’ that no one’s ever heard of, people didn’t even know I put it out, it was originally titled ‘Atavista,’ it was supposed to be ‘Atavista,’ but we put it out quickly, I didn’t master or mix it, I just kind of put it out. I was going through a lot, n—s thought everybody was going to die because it was the pandemic.”
Fans finally got to listen to the fully finalized album, Atavista, on May 13th, 2024 after a significant amount of teasers and cryptic videos posted on both Gilga Radio and his personal social media accounts. As the release of Atavista drew nearer, Glover hosted several livestreams on his radio platform hinting at new music, music videos, and even tour dates that were thinly veiled by memes and AI covers.
After time away from the project, Glover’s finalized take on his previous album was for the better, as he gives his audience a clearer, more concise version of his passion project. The new Atavista doesn’t make any major departures from its former self– aside from the absence of songs like “42.26” or “Feels Like Summer”, revisions to some interludes, and new features from artists including Summer Walker. Upon listening to the two albums in succession, it’s clear that the alterations allowed Glover’s personal artistic touch to shine through.
Standouts in Atavista include the title track, which engulfs the listener in a smooth and mellow melody that’s perfect for summer afternoon drives. “The Violence” and “Final Church” round out the album in perfect juxtaposition. “The Violence” has a driving underpinning beat that’s similar to songs typical of Brazillian bossa nova, and excellent suspended harmonies that are comforting while at the same time being slightly eerie. “Final Church” is a great culmination to the album, bringing in elements of gospel in its backing vocals, coupled with an absolutely nasty composition and forcefully great verses.
There is so much more to be said about this album, but some things can only be listened to and experienced firsthand. ‘Atavista’ is out now on all streaming platforms, and I highly encourage you to give it a thorough listen.
Childish Gambino is on tour this summer with “A New World Tour”. Get Tickets here.
